NHL 19 Review: Skill System Shines, Franchise Falls Short

NHL 19 arrived on PS4 and Xbox One in September 2018, and EA Sports’ hockey franchise had a problem. The previous season’s release had been weak, and the studio needed to prove it still mattered. The answer was a new approach to skill and a fresh look at how players moved across the ice. The result is a game that mostly works, even if it doesn’t fully fix the flaws that held the series back.

Trailer, via EA SPORTS NHL.

Skill And Control

The biggest change in NHL 19 is the Skill System, a set of controls that reward timing and precision over simple button presses. Players can now fake, spin, and push off opponents with a sense of weight and space that earlier games lacked. It takes practice to master, but once the motions settle, it feels like a genuine improvement over the flat, scripted moves of past seasons.

The handling of the puck itself is sharper too. Passing lanes open up with better timing, and the game punishes careless throws with turnovers that feel earned rather than random. Skating still lags behind other sports titles in the genre, but the control sticks offer enough friction to make quick turns feel deliberate rather than slippery.

The Rivalry Mode

The Rivalry Mode returns for a second season, and it remains the best reason to play NHL 19 outside of regular matchups. Players build a custom career player through a full schedule of games, complete with scouting, trades, and media duties. The mode carries over from the previous season’s design, and it shows in its depth. Here is a breakdown of what a typical week looks like:

The weekly rhythm gives the mode a natural pace, and the added layer of team management makes each win feel earned. Scouting lets players target specific players for trade offers, while contract negotiations add a layer of negotiation that other career modes rarely attempt.

Presentation And Sound

The presentation holds up well, with broadcast-style graphics that put players in the center of the action. The commentary team sounds engaged, and the crowd reactions are some of the best in the genre. The arenas look sharp, though the lighting sometimes struggles in darker rinks.

The sound design is solid but not revolutionary. The crack of the stick, the roar of the crowd, and the announcer’s call all land where they should, but none of it pushes the envelope. It’s competent, not memorable.

Online Play

Online multiplayer is where NHL 19 falters. Matchmaking is inconsistent, and the game often takes a minute or two to find a match, which can frustrate players looking for a quick session. Once a game starts, the connection holds, but the wait time keeps the experience from feeling seamless.

Ranked matches offer a way to climb the ladder, but the grind can feel slow. There’s no way to speed up the process, so players who want to move up quickly will find themselves waiting for weeks rather than days.

The Problem With The Franchise

The Skill System is a step forward, but it doesn’t address the underlying issue that has plagued NHL games for years: the lack of a compelling reason to keep playing. Seasons in NHL 19 feel similar to seasons in the games before it. The same roster, the same arena, the same grind. There’s nothing here to shake up the formula beyond the Skill System, and that’s a problem.

The Rivalry Mode helps, but it’s a single-player feature. Multiplayer needs more variety to draw players back week after week. Without that, the game risks becoming a seasonal curiosity rather than a destination.

What Works

• The Skill System adds a layer of skill that wasn’t there before
• The Rivalry Mode remains the standout career feature
• The presentation holds up with sharp graphics and engaged commentary
• The puck handling is more precise than in previous seasons

What Needs Work

• Online matchmaking is slow and unreliable
• Ranked play rewards patience over skill
• The franchise mode lacks a reason to return

NHL 19 isn’t a bad game. It’s a solid one, with a few features that elevate it above the pack. But it also lacks the spark that would make it essential for anyone who isn’t already invested in the series. The Skill System is the future of the franchise, and it works well. The rest of the package is competent, but it doesn’t justify a purchase on its own.

For longtime fans, NHL 19 is worth picking up for the Skill System alone. For newcomers, the franchise mode won’t be enough to draw them in. The game is at its best when it’s focused on the action on the ice, and it falls short when it tries to be more than that.

The critical score for NHL 19 sits at 7.9 out of 10, and that number feels about right. It’s a game with a strong core and a weak frame around it, and the balance between the two determines how it’s received.

EA Sports · game review · hockey video games · NHL 19 · Rivalry Mode